Human Ch 7
Notice: I own nothing!
Pit swiftly jumped back, using his wings to keep him airborne just long enough to take aim at the crackling, blue electric attack that bounded towards him. He shot his own attack and the two collided, dispelling one another. He couldn't react fast enough, however as Pikachu followed up with it's quick attack, forcing him off balance.
Pikachu was proving to be much more than a formidable opponent. He was much smaller and quicker then Pit had expected. Not to mention every attack the mouse managed to pull off drained him of surprising amounts of energy. He was so eager when he first heard that his next opponent was one so renowned for their fighting abilities, but now his mind was racing for a way to regain the upper hand.
He charged Pikachu once he regained his footing only to have his blades meet thin air. The bright rodent had foreseen the attack coming and jumped well above the weapon's reach. With the blade past him and no longer a threat, he quickly spun his body and brought his tail hard across the angel's face. Pit quickly recovered and readjusted his grip on the swords as he prepared to scale the proverbial mountain ahead of him.
In one of the viewing rooms of the smash compound the pair of swordsmen who, four days before, tried so hard to cheer their friend up now watched him on the large monitor.
"You think somethings wrong with him?" Link asked as he leaned forward, studying Pit's movements.
"What do you mean?" Marth wasn't nearly as rapt into his friend's attacks.
"I've seen him swing those blades much faster than that."
"Hmm, maybe something is wrong," Marth mused, now noticing the sluggishness Link spoke of.
"He had guard duty all night." A third voice coming from the doorway caught the boy's attention. Samus Aran strode into the room with blue eyes fixated on the screen.
"Hey." Marth greeted her as Link gave her a silent nod. "How'd you know what he was doing last night?"
"It came up in conversation yesterday."she stated, not wanting to get off subject. "How's he faring?"
"I wish I could say he's at least holding his own but it looks bad so far." Marth commented as he returned his focus to the fight. The trio watched as Pit struggled to regain control of the match, silence filling the room once again as they were drawn into the action. A few minutes of watching Pit get beaten from one side of the stage to the next was enough for the blonde swordsman.
"I think I'm going to find something else to do." The young man stood up and walked to the door.
"Really? You don't want to see how this turns out?" Samus asked.
"It's not that hard to see that he's outmatched this time," he stood in the doorway for a moment as Samus claimed his newly emptied seat. The hero of time quickly excused himself without another word.
"Huh," Samus stared at the door frame for a moment, " I thought I was suppose to be the anti-social one."
"Yeah there are a lot of you silent types around here." Marth grinned. "With you and Link in the same room I was afraid I was going to be talked to death."
"Very funny, your highness." She responded dryly.
"By the way," he dragged these words out, "You were hanging around with Pit again yesterday?"
"Yeah," She shifted uncomfortably in her seat a bit, "what of it?"
"Nothing, just wondering." He continued to smile as a sign of good will, hoping that he wasn't getting on the bounty hunter's bad side. Another question rose to his lips but as he turned his head to ask it he met eye to eye with Samus' infamous icy glare. He quickly shifted his sight back to the monitor, the last thing he needed was to be inducted into Samus Aran's hit list.
The bob-omb collided with the ground, exploding where Pikachu stood just seconds ago. It may of missed its mark but Pit bought himself enough time to shoot a few arrows at the airborne Pokemon. His chest heaved heavily as he dashed in for his next attack. His hands swiftly caught the scruff of the yellow mouse and he swung his advisory hard onto the steel plates of the Great Fox. As the winged fighter jumped back, avoiding the malicious sparks that Pikachu released, the weakness in his legs almost gave way to his weight causing him to worry.
As he stared the smaller fighter down his mind conceived plan after plan that could win him this match. Maybe he could lead Pikachu down off the nose of the ship and in front of the ships cannons. However the thought was discarded with the others once he factored in that Pikachu was much too quick to fall for such a trick.
Every failed plan that was lost in thought brought him back to one idea: items. If he had any chance of emerging victorious he would need to a lucky draw from the pool of randomly appearing aides.
'A Smash ball, a hammer, some food, anything!!' he pleaded as another of Pikachu's thunderbolts leapt at him, only to bounce off his sacred shield.
Whatever unseen deity who controlled the items in these tests of might must of heard his prayer as the brightly colored ball of energy, that saved the angel nearly a handful of times now appeared in a flash of light. To his dismay it was some distance behind Pikachu.
Nimble fingers quickly served a energy arrow, to which Pikachu quickly ducked and braced for it's draining impact. When no sensation followed the mouse looked up just as a second arrow curved into the mystical ball.
Straining his already sore wings, Pit took to the sky. Now that his opponent was aware of his arrow's new target the attacks would cease until one of them had the ball's power. His wings pumped hard, powerful strides as he could almost feel his swords cut the sphere in two. His mid-race fantasy was cut short as the ship bound Pokemon cried loudly and lighting was summoned from out of nowhere, ripping the sky and the Smash Ball apart..
Marth and Samus took turns cringing and feeling sorry for their flying friend as Pikachu executed it's Volt Tackle and effortlessly knocked him back and forth through the sky.
"He might need some help getting back to his room after all this." Marth commented as he wondered if Pit was even conscious anymore. When Samus didn't move he looked at her insistingly.
"Fine, I'll take care of him." Samus volunteered, momentarily glaring daggers at the young king before leaving the room. Marth could only grin as he noticed the hint of concern in Samus' last statement.
The last thing Pit could clearly remember of the match was sailing through the air, back and forth like a fallen leaf in a gentle breeze. As his sight became increasingly dim he could barely make out the shape of the Great Fox as he fell from it.
For once the angel didn't have enough energy to worry about the sensation teleporting back to the compound wrought over him. He didn't even have the energy to stand as his knees buckled and gave way the moment the transportation was complete. Luckily a friendly pair of arms were ready to catch him before he could hit the ground.
"You really overdid it this time didn't you?" Samus chided the angel as she helped get him back to his feet. "Well Pit, how are you feeling?"
For a moment he stood silent, his head tilted down and his brown locks hid his eyes. Samus had to wonder if he was ashamed about his loss.
He tilted his head back up, showing her a warm, sincere smile that made he mouth crack into a small smile as well.
"That was a lot of fun!" He found it difficult to express his excitement. "Probably one of the best fights I've had in a long time."
Watching the angel get so excited and yet so tired at the same time made the bounty hunter giggle. "Come on lets get you to your room."
Pit's demeanor slowly shifted as they made the trek back to his room. His weary smile had slowly sank into a frown by the time they arrived at his door.
"What's wrong" Samus asked upon noticing his change of attitude.
"I'm sorry." His words were quieter then they were moments before.
"For what? For losing the match?" The bewildered blonde asked.
"No, the last time I had a match you had to help me up here. I'm just sorry for being such a burden to you." His tone mirrored his glum expression.
"Hey, I don't mind helping you so quit worrying about it. You should probably get some sleep now." She reassured the weary fighter.
A small smile returned to the angel's lips as he wrapped the taller woman in a lazy hug, surprising her.
"Thanks anyway." He released her and disappeared into his room.
"Yeah, no problem." Samus responded a bit late, still dazed over the angel's warm, affectionate action. She associated this place with training and fighting so much that something as simple as a hug seemed almost out of place, she honestly didn't mind the small change of pace.
The sun had dipped far below the horizon by the time Pit awoke from his 'little' nap. After twenty minutes of tossing and turning failed to yield anymore sleep, he decided that his time was better spent doing something else. As quietly as he could, he wandered the dark, deserted halls. As this pastime became more and more unappealing he made his way to the roof, unaware that his foot steps had alerted a few pairs of well trained ears.
As Pit scanned the night sky he noticed that the still lingering lights of the city hid many of the stars from sight. The sky outstretched over the forest, however still offered many of the bright glittering beacons to be admired.
He leaned over one of the roof's raised edges. Perching his head on his open hand, his eyes scanned over the the many points of light. Quietly, he reflected on how hectic his life had become the last few weeks. Balancing his work and play was turning out to be an near impossible task, and in the end if he had to choose only one of these lives to live he would have to quit fighting and return to Angel Land.
He could see it now, day in day out would be the same routine everyday. Sleeping most of the day and protecting his goddess during the night. This boring cycle would continue on and on until he died or was replaced and forgotten. The only other threat to this cycle would be life-threatening war with the Underworld.
'Forgotten,' he briefly refocused on the idea. For some time now, the idea of just being forgotten gripped him like a vice. Even thinking of the word filled his heart and soul with so much sharp, bitter pain that he worried one day it might rot him from the inside out. Never again did he want to be forgotten and left behind.
Waves of depression came over him and refused to ebb. He sighed heavily and the sound of footsteps caught his attention. Turning around, he saw a rather alert Samus who was in the middle of packing her blaster away. The wind rushed around, tossing about her unbound hair and creating a true sight to behold. Pit had to look away before he could find his voice again.
"Hey," he softly greeted, "what are you doing awake?"
She walked forward until she could see his softly illuminated face better. "I heard someone walking through the halls in the middle of the night so I decided to check it out." The tone of her voice expressed that she wasn't exactly happy to be awake right now.
"And you were going to save the day with a little stun gun?" Pit joked, well aware of what she was capable of.
"It may only stun..." her skillful hands quickly drew the gun and brought the barrel inches away from the angels face, "It's what I'd do while your paralyzed that would save the day." She concealed the weapon once again and went to lean on the raised edge as her friend was moments ago.
"Well then I guess I'm lucky you like me so much." Any signs that Pit was sad before she came had completely dissipated in the night's chilly air.
"You're damn right you're lucky. You're lucky I ever decided to give you a chance." She half joked.
"Is that so?" Her statement caught his interest.
"Yeah, you know at first your eyes really freaked me out."
"My eyes? Why?"
She hesitated a second before answering him, wondering if she should really share the childish reason. "The way they glow, they remind me of the space pirate that took my home and parents from me."
An awkward silence filled the space between them as the couple stood still, unsure of how to carry on the conversation.
"I, I'm sorry." A meek apology escaped his lips.
"No Pit, don't apologize for being yourself. Besides, your eyes aren't exactly like his, yours are..." she trailed off as she looked into the glowing blue orbs in question, "much more gentle."
Cutting her view from his eyes Pit gazed back at the stars. "Nice view out here, huh?" He hoped changing the subject would tame his blush.
"The stars don't interest me really." She shrugged off his question.
"This beautiful night sky doesn't inspire you at all? Why not?" Pit was amazed that she held such disdain for something so awe inspiring.
"I've spent so much time out there amongst the stars, they just seem cold and distant to me now I guess. I'm getting tired of being out there so much and that's why I spend so much time here."
"But don't people need you back home?"
"I'll return whenever they really need me, but I'd rather stay here. It gives me a chance to learn about other things that interest me." Samus' tone lightened.
"Like?"
The blonde swallowed hard, "Like...you, for example."
Pit was struck with awe by her confession, but quickly recovered and smiled at her.
"How about tomorrow then?"
"'How about tomorrow' what?" She asked bewildered
"You won the bet so how about tomorrow evening we'll go somewhere nice and quiet and you can ask me as many questions as you want."
She had been alone with him before. She was alone with him right now. But something about his proposition made her heartbeat quicken.
"Sure, I guess." She avoided his gaze momentarily, "I guess if we have plans I better get back to bed then." She was suddenly desperate to get back to her room.
"Alright then." He turned back to face the starlit sky. "Goodnight Samus."
"Goodnight Pit." She looked one last time at his luminous wings.
-----
That same day Palutena strolled through her personal courtyard, enjoying the age of peace that had currently blessed Angel Land. A warm breeze carried a sweet aroma from her various flower boxes. The day had been quiet and calm so far, despite how she felt. The emerald haired goddess had awoken that morning with a uneasy feeling that slowly ate away at her mind though out the day.
She hadn't talked to Pit in quite a while. Their schedules now were so different, by the time he returned home for guard duty she was usually fast asleep. Taking a seat at the fountain's edge her mind drifted back to the last time she fretted over Angel Land's hero so much.
Palutena sat at the end of a table, a distressed look scarring her normally breathtaking profile. Several highly decorated angels shared the table with her as they discussed their unconscious comrade in the next room.
"We ripped him away from the girl he loved!" Palutena interrupted angrily. A silence fell over the council.
Palutena was lost in her thoughts as her reflection started waving without the water's movement. The odd phenomenon caught her attention and she was quick to stand up and remove herself from the fountain's company. Her mind was troubled enough right now without having to deal with anyone else.A/N: With so much death and sadness in my personal life since the last chapter I have to apologize if my writing style has changed for the worst. I want to thank those of you who keep reviewing and keep me motivated.
"My goddess," all attention was shifted to an elderly looking angel who now stood up, "We don't have any idea what type of magic Pit was attacked with, or what kind of creature Orcos was. Attempting to heal him could take unforeseen amounts of time and energy. Can we really give up so much on just one person?"
Several of the other angels nodded and quietly commented in agreement.
"We have no idea if his condition CAN be cured." Another, younger angel commented.
"What are you saying?" Palutena questioned them all in disbelief. " He risked his life and saved Angel Land twice! I believe we owe it to him to at least try!" The worry and sorrow ran with her words thick like syrup.
"No one is disputing his heroism, but what are our soldiers going to do if we focus so many of healers on one case? We can give him a quick, painless, honorable death that's-"
"We all know that that girl couldn't be allowed to exist any longer." The elderly angel reminded her.
"I know, I know." Palutena's passion died down for a moment.
"My goddess, your thoughts aren't being influenced by anyone are they?" A blonde, female angel asked.
"No they aren't." Palutena stood from her seat. "I'll work on him myself if I must. I won't allow one of my last acts in his lifetime to be taking away his lover." She decided and entered the next room.
Pit was laying on a small bed made with white linen. His skin was frightfully pale as he slept, as if death was ready to claim him. Looking down at the fallen angel who gave so much for her and her people she felt her heart being twisted and contorted. It only worsened when she picked up his sleeping form and watched several feathers fall from his wings onto the cool, marble floor.
I'm pretty happy with this chapter, mostly because from this point on the chapters will focus a bit away from the fights and more towards Pit's past and his budding relationship with Samus. His past will be based on the two Kid Icarus game with a few more story elements
On that note in this chapter I mention Orcos, the antagonist of Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters. More about him will be revealed later.
That small Fire Emblem spoiler with be in the next chapter, but its so small I'm not sure if I even have to warm you guys about it.
Here a bit of fan art for you all: .com/art/Pit-and-Anakia-141402729
To end with a little fun fact Anakia's name is based off of Ananke, the goddess of Destiny.
Thank you all and please review.